Improvement in hay-fokk



'lnml' Qtatre stent optimist.

Lette/rs Patent No. 91,959, dated June 29, 1869.

IMPRO'EMEN T IN HAY-FORK.

The Schedule referred to in theserLetters Patent and making part of the same.-

To all whon* 'it may concern j Beit known that I, F. L. MORRISONpOf New'AL bany, in the county of Floyd, and` State of;lndiana, have invented a new and improved Hay-Fork; and'I do hereby declare that the following is a full,`clear,'

and exact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference l v This invention relates to a new handA hayffork, which is so constructed that it can be used to convey a load of hay from places where it is inconvenient to employ other conyeying-apparatus. Y

The invention consists, first, in arranging' an adjustable shoulder-rest on the handle ofthe ibrk,`which allows it to be carried on the shoulder of aman, with a heavy load on vits prongs. v

rlhe invention consists, also, in the application of a jointed removable prong, which can be swung up to retain a large loadupon the'fork.v

A, in the drawing,`represents the handle of my improved hay-fork. l

B B are the two main prongs, which are secured in suitable Vmanner to the handle, and which, if' used alolre, allow the device toV be employed asa manurefor Between the prongs B B, is formed a socket, to re-` ceive either a single third prong, 0,'.or a double 'or treble prong, D, which additional prongs are held with their shanks a in the said socket, bya suitable springcatch, b. l

The single prong C is jointed, its main fixed part Ac being about as long as or longer than the prongs B,

whileits front part d is pivoted to the front end ot c by pin, e, as in fig. 3. The said pin e passes through a slot of the part 0.5 '4

A'hook, f, is formed on the front end of the'part c, to lock the part (l in the turned-up position, for which purpose, also, a spring may be provided.

When the fork is to be illed, its prong C is straightened, as in fig. 5, and pushed into the hay or straw up to the handle. The handle is then pressed down and swung up, whereby the part d will be retained horizontally on the ground, and locked, by the hpok j; in the posit-ion shown in lig. 6. Y

The fork can then, full of hay, manure, or straw, be conveyed from one place to another, the part d of the prong C holding the hay iuplaee. lwo or more such jointed prongs G may be used on one fork.

-Eis a short bar or plate, which is perforated, so that it can be fitted upon the handle, and adjusted thereon in any desired position. means of a screw, y, or otherwise, in any desired position.

This bar o r plate E is made of wood, metal, or other desired material, and serves as a shoulder-r-est to sup` The load is thereby considerably reduced, aud can be conveniently t port the fork on the shoulder of a man.

carried any desired distance.

Having thusdescribed my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. YThe adjustable'shoulder-rest E, arranged on the handle, of a fork, substantially as and for .the purpose herein` shown and described. v

2. The jointed prong B, consist-ing of the parts b c, when arranged on a hand-fork, to operate substantially as herein shown and described. i

3. The hand hay-fork, consisting of .the handle A,

fixed prongs B, detachable prongs O or D, which may' be jointed, as described, all made and operating substantiallyas herein shown and described.

F. L. MORRISON.' Witnesses:

J osIAH GRIM, W. W; TULEY.

It can be locked by Y 

